₦airaland Forum

Guys, you're missing this thread

https://www.nairaland.com/3292928/salary-structures-schools-around-badoreajah/1

There are teachers asking for salaries for most of the schools in Lekki/Ajah area. Some experiences teachers there state that their salaries start from N50,000 per month and the highest amount I've read there is N350,000 monthly for teachers and it's a sliding scale; you earn more the longer you stay and have more experience. But because teachers supplement their incomes with home lessons, most experience burnout. However, schoolfees for most of these schools is upwards of N200,000 per student per term (N400,000 per term per student for some of them). And all of them agree that the higher the pay, the more overworked they are (they work even during holidays).

If a school has 2000 students paying N250,000 per term and let's make each class 25 students with one teacher and Assistant teacher (who will earn less). I'm not up to doing the Math, but it seems parents are paying for facilities rather than teaching staff. I'm sure some teachers are excellent but it's very unlikely every single teacher is incredible and plus, they are overworked. So they won't be able to give their best every day.

Why am we paying so much for facilities

So how does one get viewing glasses?

Can we all stop chestbeating and boasting and on the other hand stop saying "it's not innovative"? Neither helps us. Who cares if he's 5% or he is not innovative, this young man has one skill we as a country called Nigeria needs:

He has the hunger for technical know-how. And if we are serious about manufacturing, about dollar being N1=$1, we will put our heads together to encourage his thirst for technical know-how and business.

So, does anyone have his contact, does he need a laptop? If someone is willing to fix up an old laptop, we can get one for him, and other can help to install Engineering and other relevant software on it for him (free). That's how to make this story relevant.

Lagos is insane to live in. It's not very conducive for raising a family. If Ogun state government had been sensible all these years, they would have funded every form of transportation (sea and road) to their state. Their IGR would grow because they would have people working in Lagos and living in Ogun state and it would be seamless to move freely. After all, half of New York lives in New Jersey and makes New Jersey a comparatively wealthy state. But noooooo, common sense is not common.

I cannot imagine being a mum and leaving at 5am. I recall someone told me a story of a lady who was working those hours (early in, early out). She didn't realise her son was so sick he had to be taken to the hospital (she knew he was sick but came home, checked on him sleeping and assumed he was getting better). Her husband made her resign the next week. I wonder where they are now, if they can afford to survive on one salary. I can't imagine living in one state like a single mum till the weekends when Himself comes home. It's not like our roads are good, that every trip will be worry-free for me.

EfemenaXY, the people I know who relocated, first 3 went back to the U.K. but these guys have "I-have-a-popular-lastname" type of money. Plus they have citizenship. So they can get all the benefits.

Gerrarrd59, Asia really is a good place to study. But not to relocate to. Knew 4 people who did it (when I wanted to move to Japan). Countries like Japan fight to remain homogeneous (they don't encourage racial immigration) and it's getting worse now that Japan has an ageing population (they are encouraging Japanese women of other citizenship to come home and breed). And they're racist even to white people (not American-style racism but "tell my kids to stay away from that @ #$!" is exactly what happened to a blonde white guy in a supermarket). Plus, cities like Tokyo (with the most diverse population) are expensive. I don't know about Singapore and co, but I checked online and a site says Singapore is an encouraging place. It certainly is a beautiful place and they have some intelligent laws to protect and grow their economy.

Countries that were built with Immigration (the U.S., Canada and Australia, New Zealand) are going to keep their doors open for future immigration. But countries with native populations are passing laws to make Immigration harder. Germany threw open her doors (in a bid to get cheap labour) and its citizens are complaining of higher crime rates and religious xenophobia is growing (not helped by things like attacks on trains by immigrants).

I know 2 families who relocated and changed their religious first names in order to assimilate better.

Askseek, I didn't want to say the same thing: my neighbour's marriage packed up because of interference and his wife remarried. When the boy was a teen, he met him. He lavished on him, thinking to try and build a relationship. Because of this thread, I decided to go and check the boy's Instagram page: there he is, posting holiday pictures with the man that brought him up, his biological father nowhere in sight. There is even another tale closer to home to me, much more sadder.

Spirit1, sometimes it's best to let sleeping dogs lie. But let him find them and study from afar. If their life seems complete, leave them in peace, time has healed the wounds. Why not have a lawyer pretend that a legacy was left for the boy by a long-dead uncle, draw up papers and give him something indirectly. From their family, just say one old neighbour knew Chioma, respected her and left this to her son (someone pulled this successfully and paid for schoolfees). This quest may just end up causing a lot of pain.

frugalandnatura:
Please can anyone help identify these plants? The 3rd pic, its the plant with white, purple and yellow flower. For the 4th picture, its a popular shade tree in Lagos.

1st and 2nd pictures are variants of Kalanchoe, which is considered a succulent. The 4th picture isn't clear.

Your compost heap is incredible.

Nikkygal, abeg find accomodation for me around your area. 15-18 hours of light is not a yam o! I truly didn't want a service flat but everytime there is fuel scarcity I'm glad I'm not adding one more worry to my head. I think there would be some significant savings but Nigeria just has an awful way of draining your pocket so you won't really see it and Himself believes I'm pennywise, pound foolish (exhausting myself trying to be cheap). I think that is his point: you work so hard, you stress so much and yet nothing tangible to show for it, what's the point?

(Why do all oil workers have this "I must maintain" mentality?? All those big jeeps for nothing).

Why not drop some saving tips? I like accountants and economists (I don't understand it but I appreciate it )

Btw, try for Canada. I don't see Nigeria making headway soon because they are not yet doing anything to make us a manufacturing industry. Agriculture can make us money to feed the nation but once every one moves into it, profit will slow down (and we tend to move en masse into an industry that is "reigning" and besides, so many other countries have taken over production of our cash crops. We need to export. No-one is serious about that. I hate to say this, but biko get that foreign kpalli if the offer is available.

Cococandy, It drives me crazy when I see that on the right path, you can start paying towards a house in your 20s abroad and your mates in Nigeria, it is by the grace of God to do so. That is my one regret relocating back to Nigeria. Sure, there are bills but at least it's your home, your car.

Spirit1, 23 years is a long time for Shell to have records, particularly with no surname. Try but bear in mind they may not allow you have access to their records. I have a feeling they will ask you to send in a formal request through their HR and insist on getting permission from their former employee before releasing his info. However I realised that 2 decades ago, people knew their neighbours a lot more than now. So why not ask your brother go back to where they used to live and make enquiries. Even if you can get a name of one of Ikechukwu's friends, that is a start. If you know their village, that really helps.

Nikkygal, where down south is a mortgage that high? Houston is an affordable place to live (I'm assuming that's where you are because a lot of Nigerians are there or is it ATL?). Unless you go and buy pass your pocket. Maybe California but I'm surprised the South is expensive. That's the first I've heard of it.

Besides, you're paying to buy a house. In Nigeria, you're paying rent. And you dare not take a loan: 25% interest rate from the bank.

nikkygal:
Valid points you've raised here that I mostly agree with and makes a lot of sense. Infact issues around the cost of living in Lagos, school fees, power etc is a nightmare these days and how much stress one even has to go through to even make the money is another wahala.

However, blank is also making a salient point which is about the cost of maintaining a family abroad, considering the fact that the husband who is the main earner will be in Naija & being paid in Naira. Therefore, he will still be constantly under pressure to earn enough to sustain his family overseas and let's face it, this can be a whole lot!

Mortgage for an average 3-bed condo in a good neighbourhood is about $2500 (south) and that's almost 900k monthly excluding other sundry household expenses - utilities, feeding, miscellaneous etc...So we're looking at an average of about almost $4k monthly to maintain an overseas family...That's about N1.4mln. What of the husband in Nigeria? He has his own monthly overhead too - fuel, car, feeding, parents,siblings etc. God help them if the hubby is also still renting in Naija, that will be double rent...as he might be paying between 500k-N1mln for his small accommodation.

In effect, the hubby should be earning at least N2mln monthly to be able to comfortably afford and sustain his family unit. How many people earn up to that in today's economy? And even if you do, I haven't factored in savings or making investments oh! Does that mean you won't have a back-up for the rainy day? So you'll be caught with living from pay-check to pay check....What if you lose your juicy job? Howdo you sustain this lifestyle?

In summary, relocating your family is a good plan considering the access to education, healthcare and other countless benefits but it takes a really strong earner in Nigeria's economy of today to make that move. As it is a very expensive venture and will so requires a lot of planning and frugality to achieve.

Everything you've said is very true. The people taking this option are not people who have no other options. I don't expect someone to complain of N150,000 per term schoolfees and want to relocate. Let's look at a family in 1004:

Average rental fee for a 3 bedroom is about N3.5mil per annum, excluding service charge and electricity (which has just been hiked. So they're paying over N4mil per annum. Transportation (using a Toyota Camry) is N30,000 monthly (that's a family using one car and no schoolruns and work within VI). Feeding costs are rising steadily but let's average about N60,000 monthly (it's more but I want to lowball). Now, every single school around 1004 is expensive, you won't find a creche less than N250,000 per term. Primary school starts from N1.2mil per term. There are no cheaper options unless you want to put your child in one of the Jakande schools around. Imagine having 3 kids in primary school, that's N3.6mil per annum. Food will rise to N95,000 (all cooking at home and driving to the mainland to shop cheaply, burning more fuel). We didn't factor in Healthcare: the first bill for immunization we got was N51,000 (not a fancy hospital o). Sure, you could go to LG to immunize but I would only trust trust few LGAs to freeze and administer immunizations and Govt doesn't cover the expensive ones like Rotavirus (against stomach infections) and Pneumococcal. Now, you can say "move to the mainland, work on the island". But only your food bill will go down, your transportation cost will rise (5 hours in traffic is the average). Education may be cheaper but expect N150,000 per term for primary school (and hope its a decent school). Healthcare will stay the same. Your energy bill will inflate (especially now when you can wake up and there is fuel scarcity because no dollar to import fuel). Worse, you will never see your family: I have 2 friends who, may as well relocate to a different state because they leave home by 5am and get home by 10.30pm. They are weekend Fathers (kids only see them during the weekend). And you will still have no savings: everytime family comes to visit, they are stunned by how expensive Lagos is. They leave their homes with N40,000 daily and come back that night having spent it all.

Some people are actually moving their families out of Lagos because it is cheaper to live alone but then the uncertainty of safety comes into play.

Those sending their families abroad are living frugally in Nigeria (one bedroom apartment close to work, small car) and send their earnings abroad. They are not encumbered by supporting family members in Nigeria, max it is one member (not the numerous dependents). Those completely relocating are skilled workers (imagine heading to Canada with a Ph.D) who know that in 2 years' time, they will be settled. The average 30-something Nigerian who stayed after his/her Masters most likely has a mortgage and is paying off his house. His peers in Nigeria won't dream of home-owning in their 30s unless they work for a multinational or have family backup or are blogging and saving every penny without eating. Because Lagos real estate is grossly overpriced and an average smallish home in some random untarred area of Lekki is N48mil if you are very lucky. Even Surulere is not cheap. And if you want to build on the mainland, the uncertainties are great: a colleague of mine has a building project stuck at a particular stage because the omonile fees for each level has risen above his pocket. Now imagine if he loses his job and he still has all those costs and no govt subsidised education, no affordable marketplace healthcare covering your children till 18 years of age. I tried applying for NHIS, it takes 6 months and covers a minimum.

It's just too much uncertainty. If you are abroad, you can plan your life reasonably well. In Nigeria, well, tomatoes can hit 200% inflation between now and tomorrow and bag of rice will be N20,000, bus fare will start as N100 in the morning and end as N250 that night and VIO will catch you somewhere, tell you you have broken a law and make you cough up N20,000 (and you won't even understand what law you broke).

blank:
I get that. Just trying to do the maths. Relocating means you would take out a mortgage as it won't make sense to rent. You would have to pay for a car and other living expenses all in forex. I guess the extra gain that they are gaining an American education is the jara.

I don't want to explain much here, but there are some perks to owning a house in the U.S. if you play your cards right. A lot of people in my circle would rather prefer to buy a home outside Nigeria than in Nigeria. The benefits are more. Most of these people relocating are looking at cost of living. For some, it costs 3 times as much to sustain the same lifestyle here as in the U.S. Just your energy bill alone in Nigeria is enough to make you want to move out again, talkless of expensive healthcare (still not the best), exorbitant schoolfees and the hassles of day-to-day living. Lagos is probably one of the most expensive cities to live in. Someone's diesel bill is now N340,000 monthly. Any money she's making in Nigeria is going towards living expenses and schoolfees, with absolutely no savings. So what's the point staying here, paying so much just to have at least 22 hours of light, paying so much to educate your child reasonably well (not go to Oxford o) and being unable to retire anytime in the next 20 years? She doesn't even have a flashy lifestyle, and it is still that expensive to live and eat healthy, fresh food and put on an a.c. all night. And if you say "cut down your lifestyle", Himself asked me "what am I working for and suffering for, if I cannot even enjoy it? What's the point of this madness if I cannot even sleep all night with light?".

Imagine all the stress you want through today. Now imagine the money paid to you for that stress went all on paying schoolfees and buying lunch for that child for one day and you have to do the same tomorrow. Now imagine if you could get paid half, get 50% less stress and pay nothing again for schoolfees (because they took their half as taxes already).

The OP wrote this thread and put up that picture as if the book was promoting Paedophilia and Homosexuality. And people ran away with it. Not one person stopped to go "that cannot be right, this makes no sense". Later on, we will be wondering how some radical Imam will preach Hate and people will start killing their neighbours and be blaming Islam.

Sometimes I don't know why I speak up. I've been thinking of leaving this place because I'm so, so tired and it's so hard to accept this is my society. Or was it because I didn't mention God and sound spiritual??

lily12:
I'm with balash on this one. You don't need to explicitly explain something in order to discourage someone from doing it. When it comes to children, you definitely DON'T want to tell them something is "enjoyable" and then tell them not to try it. As much as this book comes off as having good intentions, I'm actually very suspicious of the author's intentions and I think it could do more harm than good.

How is this different from showing teenagers porn and telling them to be sexually pure? How is it different from giving a child a glass of some sweet dessert wine and then telling them it is bad for them, and expecting them not to try to reach your wine rack or wine cabinet to get another try when you are away? I remember one music video from a different country where it was a warning to Christians not to indulge in alcohol and sex but the thing was so sexually explicit, yet when I asked about it I was told "You will understand when you are spiritually mature."

In my view, all it takes is to tell a child "Don't let anybody touch you here/there. If ANYONE does, let me know, okay? Even if they tell you it is a secret, make sure you tell me, okay?" Reassure the child that nobody will beat them or harm them if you tell them. And pray pray pray pray. Be close to your children so that they can open up to you. All this red eye, attitude, and glaring when a child says "Mummy" will not help.

Then, it would also behoove parents of these days to monitor who their children spend time with. No offense to Onegai and those who side with her but what if their children decide to experiment on this "enjoyable" thing using your children?

We were all once children. We know these things.

For those of you who do not yet have children but trust that God has marriage and/or children in His plans for you, biko, lay hands on your womb and begin to battle. Things are bad. The world has changed. Mothers, SOMEONE will raise your children. I saw a thread here about "career or marriage?" and just shook my head. If someone has no time for their marriage, where will their children fall in their list of priorities? If you don't take time to be close to your children, they will be raised by your housekeeper, their teachers, and books such as this one. And because God has placed you as a steward over your children, you will be answerable for the way they turn out. These days it is relatives who do these things. I work with women and have heard stories. Mothers, I beg of you. Take your role seriously. Fathers, be present. I don't know who I am typing this for but I feel someone needs to read it. I rarely sign into Nairaland sef.

Oga balash, I for one am grateful that you shared this. Thank you and God bless you.

Did you read anything I wrote? If you had, please point out to me where I said I supported this. I said, and I'm quite sure it is up there for the world to see: "This book is explicit because it is written for a society that is explicit. It is a more explicit version of a book called "Don't touch me there". It may be too much for Nigerians "standards" but it (that is, the subject of the book) is very necessary in our society".

Again, I ask: why did no-one stop to consider the danger of allowing someone give you a half-truth and you run away with it? Because one day, I can easily start a riot based on a half-truth and you may end up getting caught up in it and get physically hurt. Giving half-truths is why we are here we are currently in our society. Even worse, this half-truth was so easy to see that it was based on a lie and yet, no-one condemned it. I'm sure you are against public lynchings, but it is this kind of unthinking process that ends up as a public lynching: someone accuses someone else based on a half-truth and unthinkingly, that person gets killed.

If I sounded angry, I am. Because we are in this current mess in our society becauss people don't stop to think. We accept whatever we are told blindly and reach on that.

Let me give you a real-life example: when the economy started crashing in 2014, NOI came out and said the economy was not so bad. A half-truth. I, on the other hand, could see that oil prices were falling internationally (news was freely available to the whole world, it was there all over the internet, other countries were warning about it). So I asked some few people in the know, and I remember clearly, they said we should get ready and brace ourselves for a bad economy. Did you see things getting this bad, did you protect yourself and your family, are you not now thinking that if only you had probed a bit more, maybe you would have bought dollars at N184 and been changing it slowly now, to ease the financial burdens a little? I queried that lie because it didn't match the evidence before me. I'm no economist, I barely understand the subject but I knew a half-truth when I saw NOI say it.

Imagine if the man who wrote this book lived in Nigeria, he would be dead by now. What if he were yoir husband?

Strangely, Nigerians brought up abroad feel patriotic. Until they relocate back to Nigeria.

Her rankings have gone up. Which means it's left to her and Nigerian Rowing Federation to compete in the African Games, International rowing competitions and more. This gives her more experience and improves her rankings. Which means in the next Olympics, she will qualify for Rowing much easier. She only qualified this year because the IOC is trying to give as many spots as possible to athletes from less successful countries. In every event, after the top seeded athletes qualify, next is good performers. Followed by the host country and some less performing nations.
It's like how our Football ranking fluctuates depending on if we do well in Africa. Stronger teams are put beside weaker teams so they "thin the herd", though surprises happen. Which is why we don't get easy group matches

Rhukie:
It is in a shade but it is the water I planted it with at the beginning that is still in it

Put it in soil. It needs more nutrients. If you put it in soil and add a banana peel inside the soil, it should be fine.

frugalandnatura:
Hello everyone, glad to be a part of this community. I have been reading silently for a while now. I have decided to become active. I salute everyone for the great work. Is any one composting?

Welcome! I'm not composting (No space) but please share your tips and techniques, with pics.

Rhukie:
I finally planted the spring onions in a tea cup but after 2weeks it began to dry up at the tip. Please is it normal/ @onegai

It takes 3 weeks to mature. Is it in the shade and getting water?

Joavid:
the bolded is unnecessary. All in a bid to make yourself feel better and superior.

The fact that you already know the full book and it's title doesn't mean they lack reasoning or logic.

the only person that should be attacked is the OP, for uploading just one page of the book and spreading misinformation.

That said, The way the writer of the book is conveying the message is not proper and can be misunderstood by kids. Did they have to include the images

Lol. But I didn't know the whole book. I merely realised that logically, no publisher will be allowed to publish a book that encourages Paedophilia. Simple Reasoning. It starts with "Here is a page from a book that is targeted at children. But this page makes no sense because it would be illegal to publish and sell this. So clearly, for it to be published, it must be against Paedophilia. Now, how about I find some proof that my assumption is the correct one? I'll go online, type in Google some keywords from the passage I saw 'Uncle Peter, Children Book, Child abuse'." And there it all was.
That's how Reasoning and Logic works. And that is how people are supposed use their brains yeah I feel good that I use mine, but I don't need NL to make that clear to me. Try flexing those mental muscles!

Balash, on Nairaland's Frontpage, yesterday alone there were like 3 threads all reporting how children below the age of 10 were molested (apparently there was one that a 3 year old bled to death after being raped). Saying "This is Africa, we don't need to tell our kids anything" is burying your head in the sand like an ostrich and thinking that if you don't look at the problem, it will go away. Now, this book is explicit for Nigeria's "standards" but there are books targeting this problem, written by Nigerians (Africans) which are meant for even younger children (I have a copy and my child is not even 2. See, you also erred by assuming I wasn't a parent). My grouse was that you didn't quite look up the whole issue and you judged based on something that is of no bearing to you (that is their society, this is our society). But please, don't ever say "This is Africa, we don't need such here", because even in NL, there is ample evidence that we have a huge problem with Child Abuse in Nigeria.

Try and understand first before and get the whole picture. The book is explicit because it is targeting a society that is explicit. Pretty sure it's also not for very young children. And the average Nigerian parent usually just buys a book (if they bother), throws it at their child and runs out the door, murmuring something about "money, job, owambe, church, mosque",etc. So they're not even going to be reading to their child, they will leave Housegirl or Davido, Wizkid and Tonto Dike to do the parenting for them. I even got the pictures from the same blog as the original poster.

Now, when is the book targeting Nigeria's general lack of Reasoning Skills, Hypocrisy and Fear-mongering going to come out?

But why are Nigerians not intelligent? That book is most likely used to teach kids AGAINST paedophilia and how it can come from trusted adults. Same way "No Don't Touch Me There" exists but is not as explicit as this.

But why are people just unintelligent and incapable of using the little brains God gave them?

https://www.amazon.com/Alfies-Home-Richard-Cohen/dp/0963705806

There, quick Google search yielded up results. It is written by a therapist who believes Homosexuality is caused by Child Abuse and can be cured. People in the U.S. don't like it because it is against Homosexuality.

You're welcome.

Ps: please all posters above me, don't modify your comments to cover up like you used your reasoning and logic. Leave it as is.

Hello.I saw your pm but cannot access my email. What's up?

Gerrard59:
Yes, I did noticed it and not only on the female side but likewise male. So I discussed with my mom about the possibility of my sis going for training at the stadium and her faciallook was a "make she finish school first". I'll say the blame lies with the citizenry, but then again we shouldn't be fully blamed. Our case can be likened to Singapore that did put education/STEM at its forefront to become what she's today, and currently invests in recreational activities to produce the likes of Joseph Schooling (albeit he went to the US for training). The government needs to improve the economy beyond what it's, so that even if they can't invest in training, parents (Schooling parents sponsored him) can (your earlier example).

I watched the US Fathers video and murmured Ms Onegai was right oh, however, the economy should be improved. I am not saying this because of my sister but millions of Schoolings, Phelps, Williams etc out there in parts of Nigeria.

Our government is not having any big plans for Education or Healthcare anytime soon. Their kids don't school here and don't attend Unity schools or State Grammar schools. Why should they waste money they can be stealing educating the masses so we will know our rights and be challenging them?

Our parents are also at fault. We want great people but no-one wants their child to make the sacrifices they made. There's no job in Nigeria: almost all the courses in University here have no jobs in their sector. Which is why you will see Microbiologists looking for bank job beside Engineers and Sociologists.

blank:
I am trying to figure out how this makes financial sense. How will it work? Someone that cannot afford 1m school fees will now be able to afford dollars for US school? A school that charges that much should ordinarily have high standards. They will to reduce the standard maybe send to a public school there. Good public schools are usually in high brow areas. How would you afford the forex to maintain the lifestyle or is there a variable I am missing?

Yes, there is. Citizenship. If one had their child abroad (like a number of middle class parents are doing) in a country which confers citizenship, that child returns back and takes its place as a citizen. Example, when graduates are applying to the U.S. for Masters, a Nigerian graduate must write TOEFL (Test of English). A dual-citizenship holder from the exact same Nigerian university will not write it. Because the assumption is, you speak English. Some of these parents relocating are going to Canada on a skilled visa program (and getting in easily because of their skillset) to take advantage of their good public education system.

Have you actually met some kids from those schools? I see them daily and they're very polished and certainly better taught than the average school. But they are at the same level as their counterpart in free, paid-for-by-taxes public school in a decent area. That's how poor Nigerian education is.

I know the U.S. system and you don't always have to be in a highbrow area to access a good school. Most middle class surburbs will have a good school and parents invested in keeping their standards up. It's their inner-city (poorer) areas that the schools have a metal detector to enter.

Gerrard59:
Hope I'd not be wrong to say it's cultural as opposed to the government being held responsible? Pity her and the medical students (coincidentally, she wants to study Medicine), it's not her fault, she just want to make a living .

However, I'll say book knowledge still hold sway, (my strength) Chierika Ukogu went to Stanford; even in the countries I mentioned earlier. I read your posts about Baby E going to top nursery schools *St Saviours things* , which propelled me to begin searching for scholarship(s) for her to study abroad (she's too good to study in Nigeria). Preferably Israel or any top Asian country (The UK isn't encouraging anymore).

Yes, I'm making friends with the right clique not just for her for but myself, hopefully they will become top stakeholders in Rivers or Akwa Ibom state. I fully understand the field of networking, as it's one's net worth. Some credits to you Ma. I'll check out the stadium and the possibility.

Are you watching the Athletics for Rio 2016? Have you noticed a lot of Nigerian female runners are competing (and winning) for other countries like Bahrain, U.K., Brunei and Qatar? They all must be given citizenship yo compete. Food for thought.

RoyalPriesthuud:
the line "government of mediocre for people who worship mediocrity" captures it all. And majority of Nigerian parents also inputs this into the kids. They want you to be comfortable, but not really great or famous. They extol the likes of Gani Fawehinmi but they warn their kids not to be involved in politics/activism. They talk all the time about Okocha and Kanu but tell the kids to 'read their books' all time, chasing the ones with passion for football away from the field and beating him. Mediocrity is daily infused in us and it is very sad! The roads and homes are built to last for 3years. This mediocrity also cuts across all levels, from the poor to the rich. The whole nation needs a 'spiritual' reworking.

Very true.

Is anyone watching the Athletics? See how many Nigerians are competing for other countries and qualifying and doing well. We ought to be ashamed because we should have been on the streets protesting against our government for stealing money instead of developing Sports and encouraging parents to push Sports. Nigeria will be lucky to get a single medal.

Don't overdo it. A basket of fruits (oranges, apples, bananas, grapes, pears etc) with a bow at the top to make things pretty. If you know how to cook, make a cake or pie for them. Traditional gifts are always acceptable in most cases. That's thoughtful of you to bring a gift but most Nigerian cultures don't expect gifts. So if you, don't do anything you cannot replicate or will resent doing another time. Don't raise anyone's expectations.

Hello. I saw your pm but I cannot access my email. What's up?

What a smart cookie!